Electrical connection between a suspension flexure cable and a head stack assembly flexible circuit

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for electrically coupling a slider to a controller circuit are disclosed. In one embodiment, a pre-amplifier with an integrated electrical connector (I-connector) may be connected via an electrical trace to a slider and via a head stack assembly flexible circuit to a control circuit. The pre-amplifier may have two parallel series of spring probe claws, two parallel series of contact pegs, two slots, or a slot and a rotary cam.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The present invention relates to magnetic hard disk drives. Morespecifically, the present invention relates to a method of electricallyconnecting the actuator and micro-actuator to a control circuit.

In the art today, different methods are utilized to improve recordingdensity in hard disk drives. FIG. 1 provides an illustration of atypical disk drive. The typical disk drive has a head gimbal assembly(HGA) configured to read from and write to a magnetic hard disk 101. TheHGA and the magnetic hard disk 101 are mounted to the base 102 of a mainboard 103. The disk 101 is rotated relative to the base 102 by a spindlemotor 104. The HGA typically includes an actuator arm 105 and asuspension 106. The HGA supports and positions a magnetic read/writeslider 107 above the magnetic hard disk 101. The slider may containtransducers to perform the read/write function. The HGA is rotatedrelative to the base 102 along the axis of a pivot bearing assembly 108by an actuator frame 109. The actuator frame 109 contains an actuatorcoil 110 driven by a magnet 111. A relay flexible printed circuit 112connects a board unit 113 to the transducer of the magnetic read/writeslider 107. The signal from the transducer is amplified by thepreamplifier 114 before being transmitted along the relay flexibleprinted circuit.

FIG. 2 provides one illustration of an actuator as practiced in theprior art. The suspension 106, which supports the slider 107, mayinclude a flexure 201 attached to a base plate 202 that suspends a loadbeam 203 coupled to the slider 107. The slider 107 may be electronicallycoupled by electrical traces 204 that run along the suspension 106 andactuator arm 105 to an actuator board 205. The actuator board 205 runsthe signals from the slider 107 through a pre-amplifier 114 beforesending them through the relay flexible printed circuit 112. Theelectrical traces 204 may be coupled to the actuator board 205 by a setof termination pads 206 at the end of the electrical traces 204.

FIG. 3 provides one illustration of the electrical connection betweenthe slider 107 and the relay flexible printed circuit 112 as practicedin the prior art. The electrical trace 204 coupled to the suspension 106may electrically connect the slider 107 to the termination pads 206. Thetermination pads 206 may be coupled to a set of contact pads 301 on theactuator board 205. The signal is then sent through a pre-amplifier tothe relay flexible printed circuit 112.

In order to carry out previous methods of establishing an electricalconnection, the flex cable on the suspension must be aligned properly tothe pads of the actuator board 205. If soldering is used to connect thepads, the solder bump must be preliminarily formed on the pads forsolder bonding. Laser or ultrasonic bonding can be prohibitivelyexpensive and time consuming due to the necessary calibration work.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 provides an illustration of a typical disk drive.

FIG. 2 provides one illustration of an actuator as practiced in theprior art.

FIG. 3 provides one illustration of the electrical connection betweenthe slider and the relay flexible printed circuit as practiced in theprior art.

FIG. 4 provides an illustration of one embodiment of an actuator with anelectrical connection as constructed in the present invention.

FIG. 5 provides an illustration of one embodiment of the electricalconnection as constructed in the present invention.

FIG. 6 provides an illustration one embodiment of a pre-amplifier withan I-connector.

FIG. 7 provides an illustration in a cross-section one embodiment of thepre-amplifier with I-connector as used in creating an electricalconnection.

FIG. 8 provides an illustration in a side view of one embodiment of theelectrical connection.

FIG. 9 provides an illustration in a top view of one embodiment of theelectrical connection.

FIGS. 10 a-d provide an illustration of alternate embodiments of thepre-amplifier with I-connector.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A method and apparatus for electrically coupling a slider to acontroller circuit are disclosed. In one embodiment, a pre-amplifierwith an integrated electrical connector (I-connector) may be connectedvia an electrical trace to a slider and via a head stack assemblyflexible circuit to a control circuit. The pre-amplifier may have twoparallel series of spring probe claws, two parallel series of contactpegs, two slots, or a slot and a rotary cam.

FIG. 4 illustrates one embodiment of an actuator with an electricalconnection as constructed in the present invention. The pre-amplifier401 of the actuator board 205 may have a built in I-connector. Thetermination pads 206 of the electrical traces 204 may be directlyconnected to the pre-amplifier with I-connector 401. An alignment pin402 extending up from the actuator board 205 may allow the pre-amplifierwith I-connector 401 to be position. A screw 403 or other couplingdevice may be used to couple the I-connector to the actuator board 205.

FIG. 5 illustrates one embodiment of the electrical connection. Thepre-amplifier with I-connector 401 may be coupled to an actuator board205 by using an alignment pin 402 and a screw 403 or other couplingdevice. The termination pads 206 of the electrical traces 204 may bedirectly coupled to the pre-amplifier with I-connector 401. The headstack assembly flexible circuit 112 may be coupled to the pre-amplifierwith I-connector 401 by a direct connection 501 or by terminating in acontroller connection tab that connects to the pre-amplifier withI-connector.

FIG. 6 illustrates one embodiment of a pre-amplifier with an I-connector401. Two parallel rows of spring probe claws 601 may line the bottom ofthe pre-amplifier with I-connector 401. The spring probe claws 601 maybend inwards towards the center of the pre-amplifier with I-connector401. An alignment slot 602 may be used to align the pre-amplifier withI-connector 401 with the alignment pin 402. A screw hole 603 may allowthe pre-amplifier with I-connector 401 to be coupled to the actuatorboard by a screw 403 or other coupling device.

FIG. 7 illustrates in a cross-section one embodiment of thepre-amplifier with I-connector 401 as used in creating an electricalconnection. The pre-amplifier with I-connector 401 may be aligned to theactuator board 205 by an alignment pin extending up from the actuatorarm 105 through the actuator board 205 and the alignment slot 602 of thepre-amplifier with I-connector 401. The pre-amplifier with I-connector401 may then be coupled to the actuator board 205 and arm 105 by a screw403 or other coupling device. The screw 403 or other coupling device maycause the spring probe claws 601 to be in contact with the contact pads301 of the actuator board 205. The contact pads 301 may be electricallycoupled to the head stack assembly flexible circuit 112.

FIG. 8 illustrates in a side view one embodiment of the electricalconnection. One series of spring probe claws 601 may be in contact withthe contact pads 301 of the actuator board 205. The other series ofspring probe claws 601 may be in contact with the termination pads 206of the electrical traces 204. The termination pads 206 may be affixed tothe actuator board 205 by adhesive or other coupling methods.Alternatively, the termination pads 206 may be held in place by thepressure generated by coupling the pre-amplifier with I-connector 401 tothe actuator board 205.

FIG. 9 illustrates in a top view the same embodiment of the electricalconnection. The alignment pin 402 may keep the spring probe claws 601aligned with the termination pads 206 and the contact pads 301. Thescrew 403 or other coupling device may be adjusted to create the properamount of pressure to keep the termination pads 206 in contact with thespring probe claws 601.

FIGS. 10 a-d illustrate alternate embodiments of the pre-amplifier withI-connector 401. FIG. 10 a shows an embodiment of the pre-amplifier withI-connector 401 with spring probe claws 1001 that bend toward theoutside of the pre-amplifier with I-connector 401. FIG. 10 b shows anembodiment of the pre-amplifier with I-connector 401 with two parallelseries of contact pegs 1002 instead of two series of spring probe claws601. FIG. 10 c shows an embodiment of the pre-amplifier with I-connector401 with a slot 1003 on each side. The head stack assembly flexiblecircuit 112 may be inserted into one of the slots 1003 and theelectrical trace 204 may be inserted into the other slot. FIG. 10 dshows an embodiment of the pre-amplifier with I-connector 401 with aslot 1003 on one side and a rotary cam 1004 on the other side. The headstack assembly flexible circuit 112 may be inserted into the slot 1003.The termination pads 206 of the electrical traces 204 are coupled to therotary cam 1004.

Although several embodiments are specifically illustrated and describedherein, it will be appreciated that modifications and variations of thepresent invention are covered by the above teachings and within thepurview of the appended claims without departing from the spirit andintended scope of the invention.

1-27. (canceled)
 28. A method, comprising: electrically coupling at least one electrical trace termination pad to a slider; electrically coupling a head stack assembly flexible circuit to a control circuit; and electrically coupling the at least one electrical trace termination pad to the head stack assembly flexible circuit with a pre-amplifier with an integrated connector.
 29. The method of claim 28, further comprising coupling the pre-amplifier to an actuator circuit board mounted on an actuator arm.
 30. The method of claim 29, further comprising coupling the pre-amplifier to the actuator circuit board by a fastener.
 31. The method of claim 29, further comprising: pressure coupling the pre-amplifier to the at least one electrical trace termination pad using at least one slider spring probe claw protruding from the pre-amplifier; and pressure coupling the pre-amplifier to at least one electrical actuator controller connection tab of the head stack assembly flexible circuit using at least one controller spring probe claw protruding from the pre-amplifier.
 32. The method of claim 31, wherein the at least one slider spring probe claw and the at least one controller spring probe claw curve inward.
 33. The method of claim 31, wherein the at least one slider spring probe claw and the at least one controller spring probe claw extend outward.
 34. The method of claim 29, further comprising: pressure coupling the pre-amplifier to the at least one electrical trace termination pad using at least one slider contact peg protruding downward from the pre-amplifier; and pressure coupling the pre-amplifier to at least one electrical actuator controller connection tab of the head stack assembly flexible circuit using at least one controller contact peg protruding downward from the pre-amplifier.
 35. The method of claim 28, further comprising: inserting the at least one electrical trace termination pad into a slider slot; and inserting the head stack assembly flexible circuit into a controller slot.
 36. The method of claim 28, further comprising: inserting the at least one electrical trace termination pad into a slider rotary cam; and inserting the head stack assembly flexible circuit into a controller slot. 